Floating surface skimmer with continuous weir

ABSTRACT

A floating pump assembly having a substantially continuous weir formed from a closed bottom and a substantially continuous vertical side portion, the side portion having a substantially continuous and horizontal side edge which is adjustable relative to the surface of liquid upon which the assembly floats; the assembly is provided with a pump whose inlet communicates with the interior of the weir and an exhaust outlet or hose for directing the removed layer to a remote location; in one embodiment, the assembly is provided with an inner weir or bowl to limit the effect of cavitation.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1968 Herman.......,...,.i..o.i..,..

[72] Inventors Howard E. Stanfield;

Gary W. Stanfield; George F. Camp, all of Tulsa, Okla. 880,594

3.397.647 8/1968 Daniel.......1

3,461,807 8/1969 Morrison1..........U.........

Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Attorney-William S. Dorman ABSTRACT: A floating pump assembly having a substantially continuous weir formed from a closed bottom and a substantially continuous vertical side portion, the side portion having a substantially continuous and horizontal side edge which is adjustable relative to the surface of liquid upon which the assembly floats; the assembly is provided with a pump whose inlet communicates with the interior of the weir and an ex- [21 Appl. No

[22] Filed Nov. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Acme Products Incorporated Tulsa, Okla.

[54] FLOATING SURFACE SKlMMER WITH CONTINUOUS WEIR 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

haust outlet or hose for directing the removed layer to a remote location; in one embodiment. the assembly is provided with an inner weir or bowl to limit the effect of cavitation.

PATENTED AUGIDIQYI 3,598,501

F 3 I00 I02 GEORGE F. CAMP HOWARD E. STANFIELD GARY W. STANFIELD I N VENTORS BY A/M/ ATTORNEY FLOATING SURFACE SKIMMER WITH CONTINUOUS WEIR The present invention relates to improvements in floating pumps and, more particularly, to a floating pump in combination with a substantially continuous weir whereby the contaminated surface of a body or pool of liquid may be skimmed off and expelled through an exhaust hose for removal from the body ofliquid.

The surface of a pool or body of liquid, such as water,

, frequently becomes covered or contaminated with some lighter but undesirable matter, such as leaves and small debris, or petroleum. such as crude oil, or, following accidents, even refined hydrocarbons. it is usually desirable to remove such extraneous matter from the surface of the liquid bodies. One method of removing leaves and small debris from small bodies of water, such as swimming pools, is the clumsy and inconvenient method of capturing the debris by a well known netting process. Stationary skimming systems are available, but are generally dependent upon a fixed and constant surface level. Floating pumps are also available, but generally with intakes well below the surface of the liquid. And for such problems as oil slicks on larger bodies of water, such as the high seas, there is apparently no present solution, as unfortunately demonstrated by recent well-publicized accounts of oil tanker shipwrecks and subsequently contaminated beaches.

ln copending application Ser. No. 787,823 filed on Dec. 30, 1968 by the assignee of the present application, and entitled Floating Surface Skimmen'. there is described a floating pump assembly having intake scoops arranged on opposite sides of the floating pump assembly. By virtueof the present invention, a substantially continuous weir is provided so as to surround the pump assembly. The arrangement ofthe present invention permits the withdrawal of the surface layer in a more uniform manner and with a greater volumetric capacity.

. Therefore, the present invention is considered as an improvement over the floating pump assembly set forth in the above mentioned application. i

The present invention contemplates a novel floating pump which has been found capable of solving many of the current problems of surface contamination in liquid bodies. The upper horizontal and substantially continuous edge of the weir is disposed near to and slightly below the surface of the liquid. Means are provided to vary the position of the weir with respect to the float so as to vary the thickness of the layer which is skimmed fromthe'surface of the liquid. in one embodiment of the invention which employs an inner weir or bowl, the inlet to the pump is in communication with the inner weir and, thus, the cavitation effect is limited to the inner bowl only, to provide relative stability for the floating assembly. A valve can be provided to permit drainage of the liquid from the annular area between the inner and outer weirs when the assembly has been removed from the surface of the liquid.

An important object of this invention is to provide a substantially continuous wei'r for skimming offa layer of predetermined thickness from the surface of a body or pool of liquid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a floating pump assembly having a substantially continuous weir with means to vary the relative vertical position between the weir and the float means for adjusting the thickness of the layer which is skimmed from the surface.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a floating pump assembly of the type referred to above which includes an inner bowl to isolate the cavitation effect and provide greater overall stability for the assembly.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG; I is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the assembly shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings indetail. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a skimming device which includes" iioatable support ring Ii) whose outer sides or surfaces are'oonstructed of reinforced fiberglas, metal or the like and which is filled with styrofoam or other material which will give the support ring sufficient buoyancy so that the entire skimmer unit will host at or near the surface of a body of water 12. if desired, the support ring 10 can be made completely water tight in which case air alone in the hollow area will be capable of giving the support ring the buoyancy required.

The support ring is provided with a central opening 14 for accommodating a pump 16. The upper end of the pump 16 is suitably bolted to an annular flange 18 on the float ring 10 by means of the bolts 20. The host ring 10 is also provided with a radial opening 22 to accommodate the exhaust outlet 24 of the pump. The pump includes a central shaft 26 having an im= peller 28 mounted on the lower end and a coupling 30 mounted on the upper end. A motor 32, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 (and not illustrated in FIG. 2), is used to drive the pump 16. The motor 32 could be an electric motor, gasoline engine, air motor, or hydraulic motor and will be pro= vided with a suitable mating coupling member (not shown) which will mate with the coupling member 30 at the top of the shaft 26.

Surrounding the float support ring 10 below the pump 16 is a skimmer bowl or weir 34. The side 36 of the skimmer bowl is substantially cylindrical and opened at its u per end. The lower end of the cylinder 36 is closed by the large flat circular disc 38. The outer edge of the disc 38 provides a circular flange 40 to stabilize the unit in the water.

The float ring 10 is adjustably movable with respect to the bottom of the skimmer bowl 34 by means of three identical adjustment means 42 only one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 2, each adjustment means 42 in= eludes an elongated bolt 44 which is secured at its lower end to the disc 38 by means ofnuts 45 and washers 46. it should be understood that the lower end of the bolt 44 passes through a suitable bore 48 provided in the float ring 10. Another washer 50 is mounted on the bolt 44 immediately below the lower end of the bore 48, and a spring 52 surrounding the bolt 44 exerts pressure againsttheupper surface of the uppermost washer 46 and against the lower surface of the washer 50. Another washer 52 is mounted on the bolt 44 immediately above the upper opening of the bore 48, and a wing nut 54 is threadably mounted on the bolt 44 immediately above the washer 52 If it is desired to decrease the thickness of the layer of the liquid or other material being skimmed from the surface 12, the wing nut 54 is turned on the bolt 44 so that it moves downwardly on the bolt 44 thereby compressing thespring 52 and moving the float ring 10 towards the disc 38. Naturally, the wing nuts 54 on all three adjustment means 42 are ad justed in similar manner to move the entire float ring downwardly in a substantially uniform manner. Conversely,- if it is desired to increase :the thickness of the layer of water skimmed from the surface, the individual wing nuts 54 are turned upwardly on their associated bolts 44 allowing the springs 52 to expand and lift the float ring 10 upwardly with respect to the disc or bottom ofthe skimmer bowl 34.

The right hand end of the exhaust tube 24 passes through a suitable U-shaped notch 56 provided in the side 36. This notch is open at its upper end and is provided with sufficient vertical extent to accommodate for the up and down movement of the float ring 10 and associated structure, especially the exhaust tube 24. A rectangular gasket 58 snugly surrounds the exhaust tube 24 exterior of the skimmer bowl 34. This gasket 58 abuts the cylindrical wall 36 and completely covers the outside of the U-shaped opening 56. The pressure of the water will urge this gasket 58 into good sealing relation with respect to the wall 36. The outer end of the outlet 24 can connect to a suitable hose 60 by means ofa clamp 62. The hose will extend to a remote location (not shown) for collecting or otherwise disposing of the material which is skimmed from the surface of the water 12.

FIG. 3 shows a somewhat more sophisticated embodiment for use in connection with skimming devices of generally larger capacity. The skimmer of FIG. 3 includes a float ring 70 which is essentially of the same construction as the float ring previously described. A skimmer bowl or weir 72 is operatively associated or connected with the float ring 70 by means of three adjustable connections 74 only one of which is shown in FIG. 3. It should be understood, however, that these three adjusting means 74 are spaced equally around the float ring 70 in the same manner that the adjustable devices 42 are arranged around the float ring 10. Each adjustable means includes a threaded bolt 76, the lower end of which is received in the threaded opening 78 in the bottom of the bowl 72. Spring 80, washer 82, washer 84 and nut 86 provide the same type of adjustment as explained above in connection with the adjustment means 42. Pump 88 is centrally supported with respect to the bowl 72 as shown. At the upper end of the pump 88 is mounted a float guide 90 to keep the float 70 centered withrespect to the weir 72. A motor support (not shown) is mounted on the top of pump 88 similar to that shown in FIG. 2 for supporting therein a suitable drive motor or engine (not shown). The exhaust (not shown) for the pump 88 will pass out of the side of the bowl 72 in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 or in any other convenient manner (not shown). The interior of the bowl 72 is provided with a circumferential vertical wall 92 which surrounds the pump 88 and forms an inner bowl or inner weir. It should be noted, however, that the upper edge of the inner bowl is at a level below the upper edge of the outer bowl portion as shown. The inner bowl 92 provides a certain degree of isolation of the pump 88 and tends to give a greater stability of operation of the device; that is, if the pump is operating so as to discharge material at a rate faster than the rate of skimming, the cavitation effect is limited to the inner bowl or, conversely, cavitation is prevented in the outer bowl.

When the skimmer of FIG. 3 is removed from the water, it is generally desirable to remove the liquid from the outer bowl (without tipping the same)'so that the overall weight will be decreased during transit and also for the purpose of permitting flushing out of the annular area in the outer bowl. Thus, there is provided a drain valve which includes a rod 94 slidably mounted in a bore 96 and passing through an outer opening 98. Mounted on the lower end of the rod 94 are metal washer 100 and a rubber washer or gasket 102. A bushing 104 surrounds the rod 94 where it passes through the bore 96. A circular adapter 106 is mounted at the upper end of the rod 94 and a helical spring 108 surrounds the rod 94 between the upper end, of the bushing 104 and the adapter 106 so as to urge the rod 94 upwardly and hold the rubber gasket 102 firmly against the opening 98.

An operating tube 110 extends through a hole 112 in the float ring 70. The lower end of this operating tube 110 bears against the upper end of the adapter 106. The upper end ofthe operating tube 110 is provided with an enlarged button or rounded portion 114 which permits an operator to push downwardly on the operating rod 110. Thus, if the skimmer of FIG. 3 is out of the water and the operator wishes to remove water from the annular area between the outer bowl and the inner bowl, to decrease the overall weight or for cleaning or flushing out this annular area, he merely pushes downwardly on the button 114 so as to move the gasket I02 away from the opening 98 and thereby opening the valve.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump is supported directly from the float ring whereas in FIG. 3 the pump is supported by the weir. Where the pump is supported by the float, it will be necessary to permit relative movement between the outlet 24 and the side 36 of the weir. The U- shaped opening 56 permits this relative movement between the outlet 24 and the wall 36. The gasket 58 which moves with the exhaust tube 24 provides a seal over the opening 56 to prevent leakage into the interior of the weir. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, however, there is no relative movement between the purn and the weir and, hence, the outlet openings in the SI ewalls of the inner and outer weirs (not shown) to accommodate for the outlet (not shown) of the pump can be formed from permanent welded connections or the like.

If desired, the float rings 10 or can be provided with radial openings to facilitate passage of oil or debris through these openings rather than under the rings.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What We claim is:

1. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid comprising a float buoyantly supported by said liquid, a weir supported by said float, said weir being open at its upper end and being substantially closed along the bottom and side portions thereof, the side portion of said weir being defined by a substantially continuous and horizontal side edge, means for adjusting the relative vertical relationship between said float and said weir so as to vary the position of the side edge of said weir correspondingly with respect to the surface of said body of water, a pump supported by said apparatus, means for operating said pump, said pump having a liquid inlet communicating with the interior of said weir and a liquid outlet leading away from said apparatus.

2. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weir is provided with an inner weir having a substantially continuous horizontal upper edge spaced below the horizontal side edge of said weir and wherein the liquid inlet for said pump is in communication with the interior of said inner weir. I

3. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 2 including a valve means mounted on said weir in the space between said inner weir and the side portion of said weir, and adapted to communicate with the space below said weir, resilient means holding said valve in a normally closed position and means for operating said valve against the action of said resilient means for opening said weir when said apparatus is removed from the surface of said liquid to permit draining of liquid from the space between said inner weir and'the side portion of said weir to the space below said weir.

4. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pump is supported by said weir.

5. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 4 wherein the side portion of said weir is substantially cylindrical, wherein said inner weir is substantially cylindrical and coaxial with respect to the side portion of said weir.

6. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the side portion of said weir is substantially cylindrical.

7. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 6 wherein said float is in the form of a circular disc of predetermined thickness and is adapted to float on the surface of said body of liquid within the confines of said weir.

8. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pump is supported by said float.

9. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 8 wherein the outlet for said pump passes through an opening in the side portion of said weir and wherein a gasket surrounds said outlet exterior of said weir in the region of said opening to prevent leakage of liquid into said weir through said opening. 

1. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid comprising a float buoyantly supported by said liquid, a weir supported by said float, said weir being open at its upper end and being substantially closed along the bottom and side portions thereof, the side portion of said weir being defined by a substantially continuous and horizontal side edge, means for adjusting the relative vertical relationship between said float and said weir so as to vary the position of the side edge of said weir correspondingly with respect to the surface of said body of water, a pump supported by said apparatus, means for operating said pump, said pump having a liquid inlet communicating with the interior of said weir and a liquid outlet leading away from said apparatus.
 2. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weir is provided with an inner weir having a substantially continuous horizontal upper edge spaced below the horizontal side edge of said weir and wherein the liquid inlet for said pump is in communication with the interior of said inner weir.
 3. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 2 including a valve means mounted on said weir in the space between said inner weir and the side portion of said weir, and adapted to communicate with the space below said weir, resilient means holding said valve in a normally closed position and means for operating said valve against the action of said resilient means for opening said weir when said apparatus is removed from the surface of said liquid to permit draining of liquid from the space between said inner weir and the side portion of said weir to the space below said weir.
 4. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pump is supported by said weir.
 5. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 4 wherein the side portion of said weir is substantially cylindrical, wherein said inner weir is substantially cylindrical and coaxial with respect to the side portion of said weir.
 6. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the side portion of said weir is substantially cylindrical.
 7. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 6 wherein said float is in the form of a circular disc of predetermined thickness and is adapted to float on the surface of said body of liquid within the confines of said weir.
 8. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pump is supported by said float.
 9. Apparatus for skimming the surface of a body of liquid as set forth in claim 8 wherein the outlet for said pump passes through an opening in the side portion of said weir and wherein a gasket surrounds said outlet exterior of said weir in the region of said opening to prevent leakage of liquid into said weir through said opening. 